Just Say 'No' to Gore
I'm a Hillary supporter who believes that she should drop out immediately after Pennsylvania regardless of the outcome -- it would be a nice psychological victory for her and it would be classy to drop out following a win instead of after a loss.
However, even if Hillary chooses to continue her campaign through the summer, I don't believe everyone should panic and start looking for some sort of escape hatch out of the primary. Joe Klein today (and some Congressman a couple days ago) suggested that perhaps the party needs a "savior" and mentioned Al Gore as a potential presidential nominee.
I would like Obama supporters to join me in calling "Bullshit." Please excuse my language, but there's a reason Al Gore did not run for President this year -- it's because he knew he could not defeat Hillary and Barack in the primary. The truth is that the two candidates we have right now are our two strongest candidates.
Please don't let "liberal" media elites get away with talking up their favorite (white, male) candidate as the "only" answer to reconciling the "fractured" Democratic party. Al Gore did not compete in the primary and therefore should not get the nomination. Period. It's laughable to argue that superdelegates are undemocratic and then to turn around and hand the nomination to someone who has not gotten a single vote.
I like Hillary but I'll be supporting Obama in the general -- most of his supporters will support Hillary if something outrageous happens that magically hands her the nomination. But it has to be one of the two.
A contested primary is a feature of the system, not a bug. Just because some party elders are getting their panties in a twist does not mean that we, the lowly voters, need to be rescued by someone who is "above" politics, be it Gore, Bloomberg, or whoever they fixate on at any given moment.
The truth is, I love Al Gore. I think he's a patriot, a great man, and would make a fantastic President. But to get the nomination of the Democratic Party, you have to run for it. We're going to be fine.
However, even if Hillary chooses to continue her campaign through the summer, I don't believe everyone should panic and start looking for some sort of escape hatch out of the primary. Joe Klein today (and some Congressman a couple days ago) suggested that perhaps the party needs a "savior" and mentioned Al Gore as a potential presidential nominee.
I would like Obama supporters to join me in calling "Bullshit." Please excuse my language, but there's a reason Al Gore did not run for President this year -- it's because he knew he could not defeat Hillary and Barack in the primary. The truth is that the two candidates we have right now are our two strongest candidates.
Please don't let "liberal" media elites get away with talking up their favorite (white, male) candidate as the "only" answer to reconciling the "fractured" Democratic party. Al Gore did not compete in the primary and therefore should not get the nomination. Period. It's laughable to argue that superdelegates are undemocratic and then to turn around and hand the nomination to someone who has not gotten a single vote.
I like Hillary but I'll be supporting Obama in the general -- most of his supporters will support Hillary if something outrageous happens that magically hands her the nomination. But it has to be one of the two.
A contested primary is a feature of the system, not a bug. Just because some party elders are getting their panties in a twist does not mean that we, the lowly voters, need to be rescued by someone who is "above" politics, be it Gore, Bloomberg, or whoever they fixate on at any given moment.
The truth is, I love Al Gore. I think he's a patriot, a great man, and would make a fantastic President. But to get the nomination of the Democratic Party, you have to run for it. We're going to be fine.
Advertisement
Instead of going against Gore, why not write a letter to the HRC campaign and ask her to drop out after PA?
March 27, 2008 8:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Klein is a total idiot.I think it is insulting.
Obama and Hillary are two tough, popular and groundbreaking candidates.
I have nothing against Gore, but in America we have something called E-L-E-C-T-I-O-N-S and we the voters decide, and have mostly decided.
Klein should in fact lose his job for suggesting that the will of the voters be overturned by party insiders. People like Klein symbolize the arrogance and ignorance of the media establishment.
March 27, 2008 8:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Observer2:
It's true we have elections in America. A primary is not an election. That you have a say at all is merely a choice of the party nominating the candidate. The elections are in November. Until then, you are asked for an opinion but not really electing anyway.
Of course, if you don't like how your party runs, you can become more active -- maybe even become a superdelegate some day -- or quit an join another.
Or, vote against the candidate that party nominated when you get to the real election in November.
March 27, 2008 10:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, what a bonehead thing to suggest. And leaving aside the part where appointing a nominee who didn't even run is moronic, Gore wouldn't want the job anyway.
I don't think Gore sat out 'cause he couldn't win the nom over Hillary or Barack--I think it's more likely because he's an environmentalist at heart and he has far more political capital for his agenda doing what he's doing than he would as President. He's in his element and would just be wasting his time as President.
March 27, 2008 10:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't you go there, batting Mr. Gore around. You leave him out of it. He's above this presidential scene now, and he's been able to do more for us and our world as a result. Klein's just filling space for magazines...
March 28, 2008 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Barack Obama would refer to this Gore talk as "silly stuff." Hillary doesn't need to drop out. Who really cares if this goes on. Obama is either the real deal and can sustain his image despite Hillary's attacks, or he is not the leader we think he is.
I think everyone on this site knows the history when it comes to primary campaigns. They rarely end early and are often contentious. Thats just how it is. The fact that we really like one candidate or the other doesn't mean we should tell them how to run their campaigns. Use their campaign decisions simply as a gauge of how they will lead as President and leave it at that.
I personally think Al Gore would be a terrific President. His expertise on the environment would serve this nation well. At the heart of our foreign policy, national security, and economic strength is the issue of energy and the environment. However, I'm very happy with what Gore is able to accomplish in his current role. If its not broke, why fix it.
I'm sure Klein was talking out of his a**. Lets just enjoy this historic contest. Let these two great candidates test their mettle and unite in Denver to stop McCain from continuing Bush's policies.
www.greenpieceblog.com
March 28, 2008 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wouldn't object to drafting Gore - we need some environmental leadership - but I'd rather see him in a cabinet position. The media only love him when he's not running.
On Tuesday, I was watching a guy from the US Green Building Council speak, and he made the standard Al Gore invented the Internet joke. Here's a guy pushing environmentally-responsible design and he still disses Gore.
BTW, I've looked in vain on Youtube for a clip of what Gore actually said to Blitzer. I've seen the transcript, but a clip would be better.
March 28, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Howabout head of the EPA?
March 28, 2008 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
He was Vice President...the boss, at that time, of the EPA head, Ms. Browner.
No, check your history and realize that Gore is way beyond all this stuff. He's not one for "the past." And neither is Obama.
So there you have it!
March 28, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like Al, but Barack is one of a kind. Besides, Al is having way too much fun these days. He's got power and cred and doesn't have to suffer the bullshit that politicians do. Why would he want to change that? But for Joe Klein - or anyone else thinking seriously about this just shows you how retarded they are (no offense to anyone with mental disabilities). All of these pundits and so-called journalists are trying to find some way a getting attention, and when they're not scraping the bottom, they're scraping the resin from their bowls that have been fueling their pipe dreams.
March 28, 2008 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
This Gore stuff is nonsense so don't sweat it.Nice to hear you'll support B.O.,but the time for Hillary to make a "classy" exit is long past. I think she'll have a tough time holding on to her Senate seat after the depths she's gone to.
March 28, 2008 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
She might hang onto her Senate seat, but the Majority Leader possibility is in question. I guess we'll see...
March 28, 2008 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dude, if you love Al Gore.....why are you bashing the crap outta him? And, you do not sound like one of us.
March 28, 2008 6:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you are a part of 'us' then I can say with certainty that I am not one of us.
March 28, 2008 6:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you said you were Independent? So no....your not one of us.
March 28, 2008 7:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Al's having way too much fun on the outside. He'll never give up his freedom and extraordinary success on his environmental projects. I think he'd beat McCain handily, but frankly I'd rather have him out in the open than trapped in the Oval Office.
Obama clearly wants the presidency. Maybe in a year he'll be asking himself what the hell he was thinking, but if he's happy to go there, I'll follow him.
March 28, 2008 7:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gore would never disenfranchise the millions of people who have already voted for Obama and Clinton.
I am a Clinton supporter, but my main priority is making sure that a Democrat is elected in November. And I am really skeptical about all the talk in the pro-McCain MSM about this election being a disaster for the Democrats. Clinton seems much more electable than Obama (Obama's dependence on an untested and uncertain path to 270 electoral votes is not exactly reassuring for those of us who are extremely worried about a McCain Presidency.), but it's very difficult to imagine how she could win the nomination. But right now the Republicans are being forced keep their attacks against Obama to a minimum, because they know that if they drive down his poll numbers the Supderdelegates will switch to Clinton. So if she withdraws after Pennsylvania we could all wake up to 527 ads of Wright saying GD America. And the more those ads have a chance to sink into the American consciousness, the more damage will be done to Obama. That's what happened with the Swift Boat ads. By staying in the race Clinton is reducing the Republicans' attack window.
I happened to be watching the Leno show the other day - it's produced by a Republican - and I was appalled by the racism and sexism in their Democratic debate sketch. This is unfortunately going to be a very ugly election, regardless of who wins the nomination. The Democrats need to be clever, and that may involve ignoring the advice of the MSM.
March 28, 2008 7:31 PM | Reply | Permalink